Dalhousie University

Meet Maxim Cormier, Fresh From the Nova Scotia Celtic Music Scene (Interview)

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Maxim Cormier

Instrumental music is the rage again as Celtic musicians release fantastic albums this year. One of them is this young man from Cape Breton. His name is Maxim Cormier. He just released a self-titled album which I really enjoyed and wrote about in my  review. His music is filled with youthful energy and the serenity of the Nova Scotia landscape. I am sure his music will appeal to everyone , even those who are not into Celtic music. This is because the charm of his music lies in the understanding of the various moods that inhabit the landscapes of the soul. And this is a  universal thing. So if you haven’t gotten yourself a copy of Maxim Cormier yet, now is the time. And I mean it. You will enjoy this album!

Halifax is steeped in diverse music.Can you cite the artists you listened to after you got your guitar in your 11th birthday?

I grew up in Cheticamp NS. a small francophone community on Cape Breton Island. I grew up listening to just about everything other than the popular music that has been released during my lifetime. haha. I listened to my parents’ favourites (such as Supertramp, the beatles, james taylor, etc). Being from Cape Breton, Celtic Music has also been a huge influence on my playing.
For the last 4 years, I have been listening to a lot of Classical Music (From J.S. Bach to Bela Bartok to Steve Reich to Leo Brouwer, etc), Jazz (Esbjorn Svensson Trio, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Lenny Breau, etc), and “contemporary acoustic guitarists” such as Michael Hedges, Pierre Bensusan and Don Ross.

The opening track Anticipation reminds me of the sound of a clock ticking. Was this intentional on your part?

In Anticipation was not intended to sound like a clock. I do understand why you got that feeling though. In Anticipation is hard for me to describe. It’s almost polyrythmic and it has an almost constant sense of pulse throughout most of it. Like I said, it’s hard to describe..

In Anticipation was one of those pieces that kind of just came to me out of nowhere. I knew wanted to find a way to keep the bass notes ringing constantly while bringing a sense of pulse to it. Which is where the idea of the pulsating bass notes came from. Then, in an effort to not let the pulse take over, I added a syncopated melody against it.

I think the parallel between “In Anticipation” and a clock is that the low sounding pulse isn’t a dominating sound in my piece. The click of a clock isn’t dominating sound in everyday life.. In fact, it’s hardly noticeable unless you have a migraine.

Track 7 (Mezquida) is a personal favorite. What’s the inspiration behind the melody?

I’m really glad you like Mezquida. It was written as an homage to Cuban classical guitar composer Leo Brouwer, who’s full name is Juan Leovigildo Brouwer Mezquida.

I stumbled upon the opening chord I used in Mezquida when I incorrectly played the opening chord to a Leo Brouwer Etude (Etude #6). The main melody was inspired by that opening chord that I discovered. The rest of the piece features ideas such as alternating measures of 7/8 with measures of 4/4 and moving chord shapes around while maintaining constant open string.

 If a much younger guitar enthusiast approaches you for an advice about releasing a guitar album, what are the dos and don’t s you’d like to share?

I don’t have enough studio experience to feel comfortable giving extensive advice. What I can say is 1) Go to a professional recording studio with state of the art gear, a great sounding room and a good engineer. bedroom studios are getting popular, but I really believe they should mostly be used to make demos. 2) Know what you want and stick with it. I knew before walking in the studio what pieces i was going to record and who was going to play on the tracks that needed accompaniment. 3) Despite having just said “stick with it”, keep an open mind. If you have a good engineer, he/she’s probably worked on more projects than you have 😉

I am curious about the album photos. They really convey the easy and expansive feeling of the music in this album. Where did the shoot happen?

The shoot was in my hometown (Cheticamp, NS). Photos by Jaron Felix in may 2012.

 What will happen now that the debut album is out and what are the big musical things you are anticipating?

I just finished the 3rd year of a Bachelor’s of Music with a concentration in guitar performance at Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS). I’m currently part of a classical guitar quartet and I’m also building a jazz repertoire. This summer, I will do some touring. In september, I will return to Dalhousie to complete my degree. Once I graduate, I want to tour Europe for a 3-4 months then I’d start working on a second album.

That sounds like a great plan. You seemed to have figured everything out in your musical career! I know that you have performed with great musicians spanning world class venues including the Celtic Colours. For those who are yet to take part in these Celtic music events, what can they expect?

Celtic Colours is so much fun. SO MUCH FUN. It’s a 9 day festival held in Cape Breton during the month october. It features world class musicians from all over the world as well as the top local Celtic musicians. It also features Gaelic Song, Dance, etc. Celtic Colours events are held in venues all over Cape Breton. At night, when all the shows are over, everyone meets up at the Gaelic College in St Annes where “Festival Club” happens. Festival Club is magical. Fans and keen listeners come to have a drink and listen to more music as the musicians take this opportunity to play with old friends or with new musicians they’ve just met.

 What are the top 7 albums you are listening to currently?

1- Chick Corea Akoustic Band
2- Los Angeles Guitar Quartet “Guitar Heroes”
3- Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer: Music for Two
4- Michael Hedges: Aerial Boundaries
5- Scott MacMillan’s “Mackinnon’s Brook Suite”
6- Esbjorn Svensson Trio: Strange Place for Snow
7- Any recording of Andrés Segovia

Where can people buy your new album?

People can buy my album at:
http://www.cdbaby.com/artist/MaximCormier
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/maxim-cormier/id561181401?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

and people in Nova Scotia can buy it at:
-Select Sounds (bedford)
-Obsolete Records (Halifax)
-CD Heaven (Dartmouth)
-Antigonish 5c to a dollar store
-Celtic Music Interpretive Center (Judique)
-Charlie’s Country Music Store (Cheticamp)
-Cape Breton Curiosity Shop (Sydney)
-The Coast store (Glace Bay)
-Gaelic College Gift Shop (St Annes)

These are just misc questions:

Favorite Color: I honestly don’t have one.

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio.

Pet Peeve: Forgetting something at home. It seems to happen far too often lately.

What’s great about being in Music: Being able to explore what I love while getting a degree for it.

Best Childhood memory: Playing for over 5000 people at “Les Jeux de la Francophonie Canadiennes 2005”. I was 14.

Things you can’t travel without: New music to listen to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xkBVvWKQkx4

***

Huzzah!

What’s hot this month:

Artist: Kevin O’Donnell

Album: Deep is the Well

Players: Jim DeWan, Finbar Furey, Larry Gray, Kathleen Keane, Bill Lanphier, Maurice Lennon, Haley O’Donnell, John Rice, John William, and Jessica Willis

Style: Irish Country, Americana

Tracks:

  • A Letter Home
  • When I Was Young
  • Factory Girl
  • Downtowner Motel
  • Girl from Durango
  • Illinois & Michigan Canal
  • Camp-Farm Road
  • Rusted Dreams
  • She
  • The Ballad of Jackie Ryan Fagan
  • Saint Malachy’s Waltz
–

Album: “Babel Pow Wow“

Artist: Dom Duff

Location: Brittany

Original Release Date: April 18, 2013

Tracks:

1. Buan yann buan

2. Bitter Lands of Llydaw

3. Noa

4. Chikoloden groove

5. Floc’h ar jabadao

6. A-du gant an avel

7. Babel pow wow

8. Houarn & lêr

9. Buzhug’o’matik

10. Koroll gouez

11. Treizh

12. En tu all d’an treizh

13. Foeter breizh

–

Artist: Enda Seery

Album: Síocháin na Tuaithe

Location: Streamstown, Co. Westmeath

Players:ENDA SEERY-Whistles, flute, keyboard, vocals. JOHN BYRNE-Guitar.

JAMES HUGHES-Fiddle. EOGHAN MACAOGÁIN-Whistle. TOM DELANY-Guitar.

Tracks:

  1. The Scholar/Sam’s Delight (ES)/The Night Owl Time (ES) Reels 4.02
  2. The Castle/The Nightingale Jigs 3.25
  3. Peggy in the Settle/Day Trip to Galway (ES) Single Reels 2.47
  4. It’s A Working Man I Am Song 5.12
  5. The Dairy (ES)/The Belfast Hornpipes 4.06
  6. Santa Cruz (ES)/Friends from the States (ES) Jigs 2.38
  7. Amhrán na Leabhar Slow Air 3.03
  8. An Bhfuil an Fear Mór Istigh? Set Dance, Slip Jig 2.39
  9. The Golden Keyboard/John Blessing’s/The Highlandman Who Kissed HisGranny Reels 3.23
  10. My Aunt Jane/The Gullane/The Rambling Sailor Polkas 3.42
  11. Jearóid/You Rogue You Daren’t Meddle Me Slow Reel, Reel 3.02
  12. The Killeigh/Langton’s of Kilkenny (ES) Hornpipes 3.20
  13. Loving Hannah Song 4.28
  14. Tatter Jack Walsh/An Luradán/The Hag With The Money Jigs 3.31
  15. Síocháin na Tuaithe (ES)/Ralph’s Paw (ES) Slow Waltz, Jig 3.23
  16. Larry’s Favourite/The Floating Crowbar/The Chicago Reels 4.51
–

Band: The Indulgers

Album: Whiskey Tonight

Location: Boulder/Golden Colorado

Members: Damien McCarron – Vocals, Guitar
Mike Nile – Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin, Harmonica and Electronic Bagpipe
Renee Fine – Fiddle/Violin
Aaron Haywood – Bass
Francesco(Cheech) Mannone – Drums
Guesting on occasion:
Neale Heywood – Guitar
Ryan Bunnell – Guitar

Tracks

1. Whiskey Tonight/2. Ceili Mor /3. It’s You /4. Hold On to You /5. Story Rory /6. Lady Jane /7. New Lease On Life /8. Man of All Seasons /9. Doin’ Fine/10. Roll This Stone/11. The Cure/12. Dreaming of You/13. Big Storm Rising/14. Dublin Day

Self-Titled Debut by Maxim Cormier

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Maxim Cormier

The debut album by Max Cormier forms a cuspate between traditional and original tunes. He does this with seamless transition and freshness.

Artist: Maxim Cormier

Album: Maxim Cormier

Genre: Folk: Celtic Folk
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Tracks :  1. In Anticipation 2. Fathers Know Best 3. Danielle 4. Tunes With Dad 5. Home 6. Hornpipes for Uncle Joe 7. Mezquida 8. Fork in the Road 9. Big Sampie’s Reel 10. Le Grand Boulanger De L’est 11. Morisson’s

 

Like  early morning dew that drips from a leaf, the debut album by young Canadian guitarist Maxim Cormier reflects freshness. The self-titled album Max Cormier has eleven tracks. There is a consistent sunny atmosphere that runs through all the tracks in the album. I can sum up the album with the following: impressive, exciting, relaxing and beautiful.

I suggest for those who just got their own copies of this album to listen to it twice before putting it back to the CD case. You will find out why I ask you this. In the meantime Max Cormier ensures to please people of all types whiter you like Jazz, Rock, New Age or Trad tunes. There is nothing to disapprove since he is very respectful of traditional tunes but still adds his own signature no matter how subtle it is.

He guarantees not to be a covers man since this album is composed of six original tracks and two as part of the medley. He is able to mix his original tunes with traditional tracks. Everything blends seamlessly in fluid collection.

Track 7 (Mezquida) is a personal favorite because it is the best guitar soliloquy I’ve heard in ages. This is where notes attain moments of pure bliss. The pattern they make turns into an aural painting of sorts. This track sums up the term simplicity is beauty. This is followed by another original composition  Fork in the Road. Another pleasure to listen to. This is not to say that I only picked two out of the eleven tracks as favorites. In fact, everything in this album is a gem of its own.  I am sure that once you take a listen to this album several times you will have your own favorites.

Max Cormier is now an important name in the world of instrumental tunes. Have a listen, enjoy and take these tunes with you as a source of inspiration to lighten up your mood when you are sad.

Big thanks to Craig Hamm of IrishMusicOttawa.ca for recommending this wonderful artist.

Bio:

Having played guitar since he was 11 years old, Cormier, a student of guitar performance at Dalhousie University, now balances his days as a fulltime student, solo guitarist, composer and freelancing musician. Cormier’s dedication to instrumental guitar, both with the use of a pick or in pure finger style, is beautifully captured in his self-titled 2012 release Maxim Cormier. Get his debut album on iTunes now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAHfEtjDg8k

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/maxim-cormier/id561181401?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

CD Baby:http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/maximcormier

***

Huzzah!

Don’t forget that artist of the week Kevin O’Donnell has his site officially launched today with updates on gigs etc. I also wrote an article about him in another US magazine but details will follow soon.

http://deepisthewell.com/

Czech Republic based Celtic band Poitín has a shirt out! Yes it’s looks really cool. According to Celtophilia Tee Company

“This is the first Poitín shirt to come out of production. I’m completely in love with it. I’ll have one of my own soon, guaranteed.”

first Poitín shirt to come out of production.

first Poitín shirt to come out of production.

One on One with Luke Fraser of The Bombadils.

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I  like both The Bombadils and Raftmen. The former is a Celtic fusion band and the latter a classically influenced folk/rock band. What do they have in common? Both are from Canada and they are bands where my featured artist Luke Fraser plays for. He is a native of Nova Scotia . Now he is basking under the musical diversity of Montreal, Quebec where the rest of the band members are located. We both like  The Punch Brothers and I remember how he was excited about going to their concert when they toured Canada. These days, he is busy with music. The Bombadils has just released an album called “Fill Your Boots”. Music can be sampled via streaming through their website http://www.thebombadils.com/ 

By the way I just heard the first track from “Fill your Boots!” while writing this introduction and I love it! So let’s get to know more about Luke:

Favorite color: Blue

Guitar man.

Zodiac sign. Cancer
Pet peeve: Apathy

Tell us what Raftmen is all about?
* The Raftmen started as the brainchild of the lead singer and bassist Ben Duinker. He is a great musician all around and thought that it would be fun to bring together all of us Nova Scotian friends to start a rock project. This is the second time we have all played together – the first time was in a cover band, put together to play the Dalhousie University music faculty ball. The first album is based on selections from an old popular TV commercial series entitled “Canadian Heritage Moments”. Some of them were used in the lyrical content of a few of the songs.

What are the challenges playing an electric guitar for the Raftmen, as opposed to the usual mandolin/acoustic guitar type of music you do for The Bombadils.
* I began playing electric guitar before acoustic guitar, so it is easy for me to switch back to electric for this project. Since I have been focusing on acoustic guitar and mandolin these days, I forgot how different it really is between acoustic and electric. For one thing it is so much easier to play and you don’t have to really have great technique to play it well, although it helps. You don’t have to really worry about tone production in the picking hand because most of the tone comes from the guitar and amp you use. I enjoy electric for different reasons, but nothing will ever replace my passion for making a hollow sound chamber resonate. It just feels more personal to me.

You list Chris Thile as one of your heroes. How was the Punch brothers concert?

Session.Picture by Aaron Hull

* The Punch Brothers show in Montreal was amazing. Chris Thile and the band are a huge influence on me and they are such solid musicians on their recordings and especially live. They are returning the September, 2012 to Montreal and I will be in the front row again!

Fans are waiting for the Bombadils album. How’s it going in terms of recording and production?
* The Bombadils album has arrived! We are very proud of our first full length album and we will be officially releasing it this Friday at Burritoville in Montreal.

How’s your own solo project?
* At the moment I don’t really have a solo project, but I am thinking about new future side projects, which may take the form of a duo project with Sarah Frank, and/or a full-on bluegrass band with some of Montreal’s finest players.

What are the funniest moments you experienced being on the road/tour?
* We are a crazy bunch of bandmates, so there were a lot of funny moments. We had a lot of fun carrying on during the drives and especially making the Vlog videos that can be found on Youtube.

Sad experiences while on tour.
*Overall, it was a great tour. We were all sad to see it end!

With Raftmen

Is it true that you are originally came from Cape Breton? I have friends from that region and all of them are very musical. Can you give us a little picture of the Fraser household when you were a kid?
*Actually, I am not from Cape Breton specifically, but I am from outside Halifax which is in the same province where Cape Breton is located. That being said I have been influenced by the music of CB. We sometimes perform a song by one of CB’s hometown heros, J.P. Cormier.
In the Fraser houshold when I was a kid, you would find me alone in my room listening to cassette tapes of the Beatles, The Rankins, Alvin and the Chipmonks, The Eagles, Lovin’ Spoonfull, and lots more. Also, CBC radio was constantly on in my house.

With The Bombadils

What are the albums that you listen to right now.
* I am currently listening to my new vinyl collection, inherited from my lovely aunt. Aka-everything bluegrass, newgrass, classic rock and blues. Also on constant spin – Punch Brothers. (go figure).

Complete the sentence: ” I dreamed of________________ last night and I____________ when I woke up this morning.

” I dreamed of the ocean last night and I did songwriting exercises when I woke up this morning.

You can get your copy of Fill your Boots by The Bombadils through:

CD Baby

Band: https://www.facebook.com/thebombadils

Wow! The vocal capabilities of Sarah Frank even without the mic shocked me. This is outdoors. She is one of a kind singer/fiddler.